Shutter-fastener



(No Model.)

W.'E. & D. E, DOOLITTLE SHUTTER PASTE-NEE. No. 297,118. Patented Apr. 22,1884.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. DOOLITTLE AND D. EDWARD DOOLITTLE, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT.

SH UTTER- FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,118, dated April 22, 1884.

Application filed January 14, 1884. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, WM. E. DooLrT'rLE and D. EDWARD DOOLI'ITLE, both citizens of the United States, residing at New Britain, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Blind-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in blind-fasteners; and the objects of our im-' provement are to provide for a more ready engagement of the fastener and keeper, to house the engaging point of the fastener and keeper within a bell-mouthed socket, and to simplify the construction of the parts, so that a cheap fastener may be produced, and one that is very efficient in operation. we attain these objects by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a partial vertical section and elevation, showing our blind-fastener. Fig. 2is an end view of the fastener proper. Fig. 3 is a partial horizontal section and plan view, showing a modification of our blind-fastener. Fig. 4 is an endview of said modified fastener, and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the keeper belonging thereto.

NVe form our case A in halves and thread it peripherally, for convenience of securing it in place within the blind or shutter B, as in many other prior fasteners. On one end of this case we form lugs a a, in which to pivot the latch 0, preferably by the screw or rivet b, which also serves the purpose of holding the halves of the case together.- The outer end of this latch 0 projects from the end of the case, to form a convenient operating-handle integral with the latch proper, as shown,while the opposite end is mainly within the springchamber of the case, and is provided with a hook or projection, c, which extends through the spring-chamber into the keeper-socket d. A suitable spring, 6, is placed within the spring-chamber of the case, and bears upon the latch with a constant tendency to-hold the hook of the latch within the keeper-socket.

This socket (2 extends wholly through the case upon its lower side, and is bell-mouthed at each end.

The keeper D consists mainly of a horizontal rod pointed at its end and provided with a holding-notch at the top, said keeper being also provided with a suitable shank, bywhich to secure it to the window-sill E, for holding the blind when closed, or for securing it to the casing or side of the house for holding the blind open. In the latter case the shank may be a continuation of the pointed and notched rod, which forms the keeper proper.

In Fig. 1 the parts are represented as they appear when the blind is closed, and with onehalf of the case A removed in order to show the interior. Vhen the blind is fastened, either open or shut, in order to unfasten it, it is only necessary to depress the handle end of the latch C, so as to disengage the hook c from the keeper, and then swing the blind away from said keeper. When the blind approaches either keeper, the pointed end enters the bellrnouthed socket and causes the keeper and fastener to be brought into proper position for engagement, even though the blind may-be saggcd a little or for any other reason it does not quite register with the keeper. When the blind is closed, as shown in Fig. 1, the keeper substantially fills the socket, and thereby prevents any one from disengaging the fastener from the outside, so that whencvcrthc blind is closed it is practically locked.

The construction illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 contains a case, A", formed in halves, with screw-threaded periphery, and also provided with a bell-1nouthed socket, (1, within which the engaging hooks c of the latch C are housed. A spring, e, bears upon the latch,with a tendency to keep its books in position for engagement, and the latch is pivoted on a screw or rivet, b. The keeper D for this latch is in the form of a horizontal staple, as shown. This staple form of keeper will enter the .bellmouthed socket from either end of the case a distance sufficient to engage the latch-hook, which lies at the end of the case so entered. This form of latch has all the facilities for readyengagenient of the keeper and housed latch that is formed in the construction first described.

In both forms of our blind-fasteners the same motion of the latch-handle is required to disengage the fastener when the blind is either opened or closed. In both of them the bellmouthed socket extends through the case in the samegcneral direction as the length of the latch. The general direction of the length of the latch is substantially the same as that of the keeper, and in both of them the parts are arranged in such a compact form as to enable them, if desired, to be placed within a cylindrical case of ordinary size.

We are aware that a prior patent shows a shutter-fastener in which the keeper consists of a notched rod and the fastener of a rectangular case, with a simple hole on two opposite side walls to admit the keeper, a spring-actuated latch pivoted within the case so as to stand substantially at right angles to the keeper, and a rod for operatingthe latch,whichhas to be pushed to liberate the latch when the blind is closed, and to be pulled to liberate the latch when the blind is fastened open. Such a blind-fastener is hereby disclaimed.

WVe claim as our invention 1. Ab1ind-fastener consisting of a case having a socket extending through the case and bell-mouthed at each end, and also of a springactuated latch having an integral operatinghandle foutside of the case and an engaging hook inside of the case, and also of a keeper for engaging the latch at a point within the 25 socket, the whole being' constructed and operating together substantially as described.

2. The herein-described blind-fastener, consisting of the case provided with a latch and spring-chamber, the latch and spring arranged 0 therein, and the socket bell-mouthed at each end and extending through the case by the side of the spring chamber, and in the same general direction as the length of the latch, substantially as described, and for the pur- 35 pose specified.

XVM. E. DOOLITTLE. D. EDVARD DOOLITTLE.

Witnesses:

JAMES SHEPARD, NETTIE SHEPARD. 

